I have a single Firemouth in a 40g breeder and was thinking about getting a few more.
How many could fit comfortably in this tank?
How many could fit comfortably in this tank?
How many Firemouth in 40g?
- Thread starter shaun_jon
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My advice would be to maybe get a few and work out a pair then move the rest.
I think a 40 would be too small for any more than that.
Usually if you have a group eventually you end up with a pair and the others will probably suffer because of it.
In my opinion a 40 would be a minimum size for a pair.
I think a 40 would be too small for any more than that.
Usually if you have a group eventually you end up with a pair and the others will probably suffer because of it.
In my opinion a 40 would be a minimum size for a pair.
Would be a good size for a pair. When they get to large eventually, it may be a little bit small. I would get 1 male and 3-4 females and keep them all together for as long as you can, I find that is usually the best way to get the pair to have a strong bond and not turn on each other. When they are 5" or so separate all but the pair and hope for the best (or upgrade to a 75 or so and keep them all together)
I agree with the others, although Thorichthys are a very social cichlid, and in nature live in shoals, a 40 is quite small, in fact IMO too small for even a couple adult FMs, I have seen them in a 10" range (maybe more), which to me requires at least a 100 gal tank.
Although those large sizes are rare in aquariums, I believe the reason is most people keep them in small tanks, that build nitrate quickly, stunting and stymying normal growth.
In nature it is also rare to see large ones, but that is because of predation by the large fish eating birds and reptiles of the area they live.
At an aquarists fish room in Chicago I saw one the size of a dinner plate, in a tank of a few hundred gallons.
Although those large sizes are rare in aquariums, I believe the reason is most people keep them in small tanks, that build nitrate quickly, stunting and stymying normal growth.
In nature it is also rare to see large ones, but that is because of predation by the large fish eating birds and reptiles of the area they live.
At an aquarists fish room in Chicago I saw one the size of a dinner plate, in a tank of a few hundred gallons.
Thanks for all the input. I'm going to leave him alone in there.
Any dither fish you guys would recommend to make him more active?
Any dither fish you guys would recommend to make him more active?
Live bearers are geographically correct, as are Astyanax tetras, but the tetras can be nippy and often whittle away fin trailers. Live bearers would also drop fry, that would be snacks for the cichlids.
Although you won't see FMs in the video below, the videos was taken in an area near where FMs inhabit in Mexico.
Below live bearers like mollies they would share waters with.
Eden2
Below a Cenote with the kind of tetras, and other live bearers you might see.
Aktun Ha
Although you won't see FMs in the video below, the videos was taken in an area near where FMs inhabit in Mexico.
Below live bearers like mollies they would share waters with.
Eden2
Below a Cenote with the kind of tetras, and other live bearers you might see.
Aktun Ha
I'm a bit late on this but agree with the others. A 40 is to small for a group of firemouths.
I think a pair would work OK for a good few years. They would have to be a compatible pair though. Just adding one of more firemouth to your existing one, could end up with lots of fighting and possibly death to the newcomer.
If you could get a compatible pair I think you could just about get away with a 40 gallon. Thorichthys reaching 10 inches are exceptional and very rare. Most males will top out at around 6 inches and females around 4 inches.
Some overbred shop bought meeki will not even reach 6 inches.
I also agree live bearers are perfect tank mates for thorichthys. Some of these get quite big though. Swordtails and sailfin mollies can reach six inches in time. I would choose something like the platy as they stay a bit smaller. I would get 1male and 3 or 4 females.
I think a pair would work OK for a good few years. They would have to be a compatible pair though. Just adding one of more firemouth to your existing one, could end up with lots of fighting and possibly death to the newcomer.
If you could get a compatible pair I think you could just about get away with a 40 gallon. Thorichthys reaching 10 inches are exceptional and very rare. Most males will top out at around 6 inches and females around 4 inches.
Some overbred shop bought meeki will not even reach 6 inches.
I also agree live bearers are perfect tank mates for thorichthys. Some of these get quite big though. Swordtails and sailfin mollies can reach six inches in time. I would choose something like the platy as they stay a bit smaller. I would get 1male and 3 or 4 females.